Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) gavels in the second session of the 119th Congress on Saturday, January 3, 2026. Today, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the Dean of the New Jersey delegation, presided over the U.S. House of Representatives and commenced the second session of the 119th Congress. “From securing the official naming of the Bud Lomell VA Clinic to mandating a Government Accountability Office investigation into the true origins of Lyme disease, the first session of the 119th Congress saw the fruitio... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, today welcomed the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun as the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. “I am glad to see that the U.S. Senate has finally confirmed Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun to serve as the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, who I am confident will be an extraordinarily effective and formidable force in the global fight against antisemitism... Read more

Today, the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus—Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ), Andy Harris (R-MD), Bob Onder (R-MO), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), and Kat Cammack (R-FL)—issued the following statement after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance on the use of segregated funds, obtained in accordance with Section 1303 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA): “We applaud CMS’s clear guidance that leftover money collected by qualified hea... Read more

During debate on HR 4776, the SPEED Act, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted Amendment #4, offered by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) and cosponsored by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), which is absolutely critical for preserving the Trump administration’s ability to continue its much-need reviews of ocean wind projects off of the Atlantic Coast due to overwhelming safety and national defense concerns. The amendment was drafted following a December 5th letter to President Trump,... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith and Sec. Kennedy at the HHS' Lyme Disease Roundtable on December 15, 2025. Yesterday, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, joined U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for a “game changing” discussion about new and improved diagnostics, therapeutics, and prognoses for Lyme disease patients. The HHS’ Lyme Disease Roundtable discussion, convened by Sec. Kennedy, was also attended by... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), a longtime champion of human rights and democracy in Belarus and author of landmark U.S. legislation—the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004—welcomed the December 13th release of 123 political prisoners by the government of Belarus—a release made possible through the energetic efforts of President Trump. “I rejoice with everyone released and their families—today, they are free, and God willing, the remaining prisoners in Belarus will be free one day as well,” said Smith. Amo... Read more

The author of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act of 2021— Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)—condemned the horrific, antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. The attackers opened fire on a peaceful Hanukkah celebration, killing at least 15 innocent people—including children and the elderly—and injuring dozens more. “My heart breaks for the victims, their families, and the entire Australian Jewish community enduring this unimaginable tragedy, and my wife, Mar... Read more

A critical amendment authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to investigate whether the U.S. military weaponized ticks with Lyme disease has been included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26 NDAA) (S. 1071), which has cleared the U.S. House of Representatives, headed to the Senate, and is expected to be signed by President Trump upon its final passage. Smith’s amendment—now Sec. 1068 of the bill—directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO)—the Congressional “w... Read more

With the strong support and vote of Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), the U.S. House of Representatives passed the PROTECT Our Kids Act (HR 1069), legislation to “prohibit the availability of Federal education funds for elementary and secondary schools that receive direct or indirect support from the Government of the People’s Republic of China” (PRC). “The PRC’s goal in influencing American students is not an altruistic one; they are n... Read more

Today, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, joined President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other high-ranking U.S. officials and foreign leaders at the historic peace deal signing ceremony between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda President Paul Kagame at the Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace. “Skillfully and brilliantly brokered by President Trump, this momentous peace deal—known as the ‘Washington Accord... Read more